Payment systems transforming 'classifieds' into 'marketplaces,' free new report from the AIM Group shows

Free Payments Systems Special Report

Free Payments Systems Special Report

ALTAMONTE SPRINGS, Fla., Feb. 16, 2018 /PRNewswire-iReach/ -- Payment technologies are steadily transforming "classified" companies --- which offer listings of cars, homes, jobs, and products for sale --- into full-blown "marketplaces," sites and apps where users complete the transaction online, often including fulfillment and delivery, a new report from the AIM Group shows.

The 37-page report, which is available free on AIMGroup.com, shows how classified advertising sites are participating in transactions, facilitating them online to increase their revenue, improve safety for users, and deliver better experiences to buyers and sellers.

"Classified companies need to embrace this change," said Peter M. Zollman, founding principal of the AIM Group. "The good news is, this helps companies add new revenue, strengthen their connection to users, and move from 'just' listings into e-commerce."

"To be successful, companies have to view their sites as marketplaces where end-to-end purchases take place," he said.

The 37-page report reviews the diverging strategies of Schibsted and Naspers, two of the world's largest classified / marketplace companies; studies the use of blockchain and bitcoin for online transactions, and explains the "hows" and "whys" companies are evolving from classifieds to marketplaces. The report was sponsored by Shieldpay, a payment processing company based in the U.K.

It reviews four payment startups, including Stripe, and analyzes 18 payment providers and escrow providers, including Alipay, Amazon Payments, Android Pay, Apple Pay, PayPal, Venmo and Shieldpay. Their features and services for classified / marketplace companies are shown in an easy-to-use grid.

"This report will help all classified and marketplace companies determine which payment services they should offer, and help answer the 'build or buy' question," Zollman said. "Shieldpay sponsored it because the company understands 'a rising tide lifts all boats,' and the more classified companies that adopt payment systems and transactions the better off the entire industry will be."

Note to reporters / editors: Founding principal Peter M. Zollman of the AIM Group is available for interviews at 321-356-3182.

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About the AIM Group: The AIM Group, formally the Advanced Interactive Media Group LLC, is the world's leading consultancy in classified advertising and marketplaces. It publishes Classified Intelligence Report, a continuous advisory service known as "the bible of the classified advertising industry." It also operates AutosPlus and RecPlus, annual conferences about automotive and recruitment advertising and technology, and jointly operates the Global Online Marketplaces Summit. Its consultants provide dot-coms, media companies, broadcasters and technology companies with strategic and tactical support, proprietary and published research, sales training and other services. Founded in 1998, it is based in Altamonte Springs, Fla. For more information call (407) 788-2780 or see AIMGroup.com.